Lot 226
  • 226

Richard Wilson, R.A.

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Richard Wilson, R.A.
  • Portrait of a Gentleman, probably Paul Panton (1727–97)
  • oil on canvas, in a carved wood frame

Provenance

By direct descent within the Panton family, at Plas Gwyn, Pentraeth, Anglesey.

Literature

J. Steegman, A Survey of Portraits in Welsh Houses, 1957, vol. I, p. 20, no. 8 (as attributed to Batoni).

Condition

The canvas has an old relining, and a discoloured varnish. The area to the left of the gentlemans head shows signs of flaking, and has some small losses and will need some consolidation. There are other smaller areas of unstable paint and some minor losses, but overall the picture appears to be in good 'country house' condition. Inspection under ultra violet light reveals old restoration efforts throughout the background, that were perhaps designed to alter the colours of the back ground, the varnish fluoresces opaque so it is unclear as to how necessary this work is. The face, hair, and clothing of the sitter are untouched in and in excellent original condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The sitter is likely to be the literary patron and antiquary Paul Panton. Panton was born in Flintshire, the eldest son of Paul Patton or Panton (d. 1752) and his wife, Margaret, the daughter and heir of Edward Griffith of Bagillt. The Pantons were an old Welsh family who could trace their ancestry back to Marchweithan, the supposed founder of one of the so-called fifteen tribes of Gwynedd. Educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, Paul Panton was called to the bar in 1749, the likely date of this portrait.

Panton married Jane (1725–64), the daughter and heir of William Jones (1688–1755) of Plas Gwyn, Anglesey, in 1756 and led a successful life as the squire of that estate, as the sheriff of Anglesey, and as an agricultural reformer who took a keen interest in the wider infrastructure of the island. He was instrumental in the formation of an important collection of papers from the Wynn family of Gwydir and from the greatest Welsh scholar of the day, Ieuan Fardd (1731–88), whom he patronised, now in the National Library of Wales.

We are grateful to Robin Simon and Martin Postle for confirming the attribution to Wilson following first hand inspection of the picture, and for suggesting a date of circa 1749. We are also grateful to Tom Lloyd for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.